Tipperary Sinn Féin TD Martin Browne TD met with the Chairperson of SuirCan Environmental, Alan Moore during his recent visit to Clonmel.
Following the meeting, Teachta Browne said: “Sinn Féin agrees with the SuirCan view that the Council’s plan to remove over 45 of the mature trees in O’Connell Street and Gladstone Street is a regressive measure.
“The recent Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) report highlights the need to value and protect our existing green infrastructure as the central point in planning decisions.
“We have particular carbon sequestration targets when it comes to the national tree count, yet our current afforestation rate is far below what is needed to meet those targets. I believe this is another compelling reason as to why every effort is made to maintain the trees that are deemed viable.
“The people of Clonmel have been outraged by the plan to remove the trees and over 1,500 have signed the online petition in the link below.
“The request from the group is measured, to say the least – for the Council to re-evaluate the removal of the Trees with a view to assessing the health and viability of the existing trees within the context of the new town plan and report as to whether they can be saved.
“I will advocate this position to Tipperary County Council as firmly as possible.”
